evening

Xu Lejin leaned back on the soft couch, listening to Liuying and Qingtan report the reactions of the various palaces below, and sighed softly.

"Although Consort Duan had her own selfish motives, they were harmless. Consort Wan..."

Looking up at Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin continued, "Consort Wan had previously gained the power to assist in managing the six palaces, and relying on the Empress Dowager and the Khorchin behind her, she started to get arrogant."

"His Majesty's original intention was for Consort Wan to raise the Sixth Prince and Consort Ning to raise the Twenty-Third Princess, but how can I allow Consort Wan to have a prince under her wing?"

Ruhua and Nongying looked at each other in bewilderment.

“Your Majesty, Consort Wan is now unable to raise the Sixth Prince as she wished. She must be furious in Yonghe Palace right now. Consort Wan should never have relied on her birth to be disrespectful to Your Majesty.”

Xu Lejin glanced at Ruhua indifferently and said in a deep voice, "Be careful what you say. You can't say these things. I'm only trying to help the Emperor; I have no other selfish motives."

"Yes, Your Highness, this servant will remember your teachings."

With her slender, fair hands, Xu Lejin picked up the teacup beside her, took a small sip, and spoke softly.

"How is Consort Mu's palace? Consort Mu is nearly thirty years old. She exchanged the Eighth Prince for her rank as a consort, and the Emperor doesn't treat her the same as before. It will probably be difficult for her to have another prince or princess in the future."

"but,"

After a pause, Xu Lejin smiled faintly.

"However, Consort Mu is now the head of Xianfu Palace. There are several Noble Ladies, Attendants, and Ladies-in-Waiting in Xianfu Palace. Consort Mu will be able to raise the princes and princesses born to lower-ranking concubines in the future."

Chengqian Palace

Consort Que remained calm, holding the twenty-second princess, Urina, in her arms.

"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and the palace will hold a family banquet. The Emperor has suddenly bestowed titles upon Consort Duan, Consort Wan, Consort Mu, and Consort Liang. All arrangements for the banquet must be made properly."

"Consort Duan and Consort Wan are no longer what they used to be. They are now ranked among the four consorts, and their status has been elevated beyond that of the former concubines."

The palace maids and eunuchs, bowing and waiting for Consort Gong's orders, respectfully replied, "Yes."

After pondering for a moment, Consort Que said, "Send some congratulatory gifts to Consort Duan and Consort Wan to congratulate them on their promotion. Also, send some gifts to Consort Ning, who has not yet been promoted."

"Those who received titles from the Emperor have also been properly settled."

After settling in, it gradually got dark.

Holding Urina in her arms, Consort Que smiled lovingly and said softly, "Urina, my child, I will give you the best."

"Even if they have a foster mother of high status, they still can't compare to you. In the entire palace, apart from the fifth princess born to Empress Xiaocheng, the eldest princess raised by Empress Xiaozhao, and the princes and princesses of Consort Yu, you are the one with the highest birth."

"My dear Urina, grow up healthy and safe. In the future, I will choose a good husband for you so that you can have a grand wedding."

Consort Que spoke softly, rambling on and on.

The next day, Lunar New Year's Eve

Everything was settled, and Emperor Kangxi, the concubines, and the imperial relatives were all very happy. The only worry was that the Empress Dowager was seriously ill and bedridden, with little time left to live.

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, the twenty-third year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign arrived as scheduled.

That afternoon

Nongying hurried in from outside the hall, bowed and knelt down, her eyes grave as she reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, news has come from the Empress Dowager's palace that she was unable to be awakened again this afternoon..."

"、、"

After a moment of hesitation, Xu Lejin quickly ordered the palace servants to prepare a sedan chair and hurriedly headed to Cining Palace.

In Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager looked serene, with Sumalagu, Consort Wan, Consort Ning, and others by her side, anxiously calling out to Consort Que, Consort Duan, and others, their faces filled with sorrow.

Looking around, Xu Lejin asked in a low voice, "Where is Consort Hui?"

"Your Majesty, Consort Hui kowtowed and is currently recuperating in Yanxi Palace."

Ru Hua hesitated for a moment, exchanged a glance with Nongying beside her, and then said, "Your Majesty, should we send someone to Yanxi Palace to invite Consort Hui to come to the Empress Dowager's palace immediately?"

"No need."

Xu Lejin suddenly remembered that Consort Hui had bumped her head, and frowned. "Since Consort Hui is ill, let her rest and recuperate properly."

"yes."

Time passed by, and the Empress Dowager, who had been sleeping, suddenly awoke. Her complexion was no longer pale, but rosy and radiant. She was even able to sit up with the help of palace maids.

Without making a sound, he exchanged a glance with Consort Que.

Xu Lejin and Consort Que both understood that the Empress Dowager's current condition was a final burst of energy before death. After a moment of contemplation, they immediately sent someone to the Qianqing Palace to invite Emperor Kangxi.

And they sent someone to the princes' quarters to bring the princes and princesses to the Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager, with her aged and frail gaze, looked at Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice, "Everyone else may leave. Consort Yu, please stay. I have something I wish to say to Consort Yu alone."

The concubines were stunned for a moment.

Consort Wan raised her eyes slightly, glancing at Xu Lejin out of the corner of her eye. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but the words were cut off by the Empress Dowager's sharp eyes.

A moment later, only Xu Lejin and Su Ma La Gu, who was serving behind the Empress Dowager, remained in Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager looked at Xu Lejin and said coldly, "The Emperor has always wanted to bestow upon you the title of Imperial Noble Consort, but I have always obstructed it. Now, as I am about to die..."

"Cough cough cough,"

The Empress Dowager coughed a few times, and then spoke.

"My reason for not allowing the Emperor to bestow upon you the title of Imperial Noble Consort is also for the sake of the country. Although you, Consort Yu, are favored by the Emperor, your family background is not prominent. If you were to be made Imperial Noble Consort rashly, it might cause turmoil in the court and the harem."

"Emperor Taizong entrusted the Qing Dynasty to me. I cannot stand by and watch him abandon the legacy of our ancestors for personal feelings."

"I know you are the Emperor's darling, and I have helped you in some ways over the years. Prince An, Yue Le, is a high-ranking and powerful member of the imperial clan. Your two younger sisters have married the fifteenth and seventeenth sons of Prince An's household, respectively."

With a deep sigh, the Empress Dowager continued, "After I am gone, I hope you can advise the Emperor to be a wise ruler. As for Consort Wan and Consort Ning, I hope you can ensure their lives are free from want."

"Regarding the Khorchin, I hope you will persuade the Emperor to treat them more favorably, after all, the Khorchin are my maternal clan..."

The Empress Dowager talked on and on.

After a short while, Xu Lejin left the main hall of Cining Palace, looked at Consort Wan and Consort Ning, and said in a deep voice, "Consort Wan, Consort Ning, the Empress Dowager wants you to come in."

"yes,"

Consort Wan and Consort Ning responded in unison.

Consort Ning respectfully bowed to Xu Lejin, then entered the main hall of Cining Palace with her head slightly lowered, while Consort Wan raised her chin and gave a perfunctory bow.

Looking at Consort Wan's stubborn and proud appearance, Xu Lejin sighed softly.

Isn't Consort Wan of today just like Consort Xuanyi of the past?

The former Consort Xuanyi, after being granted the title of Consort, seemed to have become a completely different person.